Because of Lauren: A Love Story

by Vivi Underwood

  As they approached the dock, he eased the boat alongside it, then turned to Lauren. “Will you do me a favor?”

  She looked up at him. “Of course.”

  “Will you go on ahead? I’ll stay here till you are in the house, but I won’t come in tonight.”

  She nodded and started to speak, but his finger on her lips silenced her. He cupped her face in his hands and looked his fill then pulled her into his arms. He was bidding a silent, final goodbye to what might have been.

  He held her until Lauren finally said, “Lasse?”

  At the sound of her voice, he loosened his arms and allowed her to step away, but he did not speak.

  With sincere affection, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “‘Bye for now,” she said softly, and, obedient to his request, turned and walked away and onto the dock.

  His eyes did not leave her. As he anchored the boat, he watched her climb every step until she reached the terrace. She stood still for a moment, then turned and waved. A second later a slow smile spread across his face as Lauren’s voice carried down the ravine.

  “Lasse Erling Jansen, you are not in love with me! Now, go get a life!”

  He sat down on the dock and laughed until the tears came and knew that Lauren would always have a little corner of his heart.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Upon her arrival at JFK Airport in New York, and after going through all the obligatory headaches like customs, Lauren grabbed a cab and headed for home. She was a seasoned traveler, comfortable on her own, and knew the quickest and easiest way to find transportation.

  New York was hot and sticky. And crowded! Lauren longed for Jonas’ island with the pure air, deep violet sky and calm fjord. But most of all she longed for Jonas.

  Her apartment, an oasis of calm, had always pleased her. Though small, it had charm and was furnished with pieces carefully chosen over time. Each time she returned from a trip she was happy to be there, surrounded by the things she loved.

  Today was different. Though she loved the little nest she had created for herself, it was no longer enough. Not without Jonas.

  He had told her to call as soon as her plane landed, but there was the challenge of time zones, so she put it off. She’d call her parents first, let them know she was back in the country. And tell them about Jonas. She wasn’t sure how they were going to react to the news that she had fallen in love with a non-member. Actually, she knew exactly how they were going to feel. Before she had a chance to make her call, the phone jingled. Her face lit up.

  “Hi, Jonas!”

  “Hello, Lauren. Are you home yet?”

  “Barely in the door.”

  “You didn’t call.”

  “No. I thought you might be dining with your fancy dignitaries.”

  “Next time call or text me, so I know you arrived safely.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  Jonas’ reply to her sassy answer was a low chuckle.

  “I was just about to call my parents. I haven’t told them about us yet.”

  He picked up on the change in her voice. “Are you uneasy about telling them?”

  “Not uneasy exactly, but they have always pictured me married in the Salt Lake Temple. They’ll be disappointed.”

  When there was no immediate response, she said softly, “Jonas?”

  “Yea, I’m still here.” She heard him sigh. “Is that what you had planned, too?”

  “Always,” she replied with candor, then her voice softened. “But then you happened, and I had to adjust my plans a little. I am not living my life without you, Jonas, so don’t get any altruistic ideas about dumping me for my own good.”

  A feeling of helplessness washed over him. There was little he would deny her, but a temple marriage was just not within his power to give to her. He knew they had logistics to work out before they could be together, but he had so much respect for her faith he didn’t consider religion an issue. In his ignorance, he had overlooked the importance of a temple marriage for Latter-day Saints.

  “Lauren, I think we need to talk about this before things go any further.” She would never know what those words cost him.

  “We’ll talk,” she promised. “But it won’t change anything. I have known all along that a temple marriage is out for now. It’s a non-issue for me, Jonas.”

  “Lauren . . .”

  “No, let me finish, please. If I couldn’t have accepted that, I would have thanked you nicely for the day on the island, and that would have been that.”

  “Lauren,” he began again, only to be interrupted once more.

  “Have you forgotten why I made the trip—especially to meet you?”

  He had, for a moment. Still . . .

  “I have done a lot of thinking about this. A lot,” she emphasized. “And praying. And I am at peace with my decision. We can talk more about it when you come for Leah’s baptism, but Jonas . . .”

  Another sigh. “Yes.”

  “Breaking my heart is not an option.”

  “Oh, Lauren, what am I going to do with you?”

  “Just love me and trust the Lord to guide us.”

  There it was, that simple, powerful faith. He sighed again, then said quietly, “Maybe my question should be, ‘What would I do without you?’”

  “Isn’t it nice you won’t have to find out? My parents will be fine with us when I explain things to them.”

  Lauren knew it wasn’t quite that simple. Her parents would be heartbroken. But they were also fair and reasonable. They would give Jonas a chance. And once they met him and got to know him, they would understand why she loved him so much. She honestly believed that.

  She made it sound so simple, Jonas thought, so uncomplicated, but he knew it wasn’t. Not when he couldn’t give her what her parents most wanted for her. “I can only hope you are right,” he said, not at all convinced. “But Lauren, if your parents can’t accept . . .”

  “Don’t even think of going there,” she said stubbornly. “I’m not listening!”

  He shook his head, silently both cursing and blessing her obstinacy. He had no desire to cause a rift between Lauren and her parents. On the other hand, he doubted he’d ever recover if he lost her. Still, he was fair enough to say, “Okay, I concede this round to you. But it is not finished, not until we talk to your parents. I’ll see you in just over two weeks. Can you behave till then? No more proposals, no more impulsive plane rides, no guys getting fresh with you?”

  Lauren giggled. What sort of life did he think she led in New York? “I can’t guarantee any of that,” she teased, “though I will promise not to go looking for trouble.”

  Genuine laughter finally rang out. “Oh, Lauren, I love you.”

  “I love you, too. ‘Bye Jonas.”

  “‘Bye, sweetheart! Take care.”

  Lauren tried to dismiss Jonas’ worries about her parents and their almost guaranteed unfavorable reaction to her news. In the past, they had always been fair, and though they had certain expectations, had always been supportive. She hoped they would be this time as well.

  She curled up on the sofa with her phone, intending to call them. Instead, all she could think of was Jonas. She was a modern, independent woman who often worked long hours and normally treasured the quiet times alone in her apartment. Now she knew life without Jonas was only half a life, and a future without him was inconceivable. She hoped her parents would stay calm and listen with an open mind. She said a little prayer then punched their number.

  “Hi, Mom!”

  “Hello, darling! Are you back home safe and sound?”

  “Yes, just got here all in one piece. I had a wonderful time. I have so much to tell you.”

  “It was a good trip, then?”

  “The best!”

  Mrs. Hart’s curiosity led her straight to the point. “And your lunch
with Jonas Juul?” She knew Lauren had gone to Norway specifically to meet the man and was anxious to hear her daughter’s impression of this previously unknown cousin. “You haven’t kept us updated at all.”

  “No. Sorry, Mom, it was a pretty hectic week.”

  “But the trip was worth it?”

  “Absolutely. Jonas is one of the nicest men I’ve ever known.”

  “I am so glad. I hoped your meeting would go well.”

  “Oh, it did,” Lauren said with a soft laugh. “We hit it off so well, he invited me to spend last Saturday on an island off the coast, where he has a summer home.”

  “He has a family, then?”

  Lauren knew what her mother was asking. Propriety was important to her. “No, he is thirty-five and single. And very attractive. And very charming,” she threw in for good measure.

  Her mother hesitated a moment. Lauren was a grown woman and had lived away from home a long time, but she still worried about her. Very delicately she asked, “You didn’t stay overnight, did you?”

  Lauren laughed softly. “No, Mom, I didn’t stay the night, and Jonas was a perfect gentleman.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t expect anything less.”

  “And we went to church on Sunday.”

  “He is a member of the Church?”

  “No. But he has friends in New Jersey who are members, so he is familiar with it. He asked if he could come with me.”

  “My goodness, isn’t it a small world!”

  “And, Mom, I spent all of Sunday with him and all of Monday. And part of Tuesday.” She took a deep breath. “And we’re in love.”

  “What?” Lauren heard her mother’s astonished gasp and smiled.

  “He is wonderful, Mom. I love being with him. I didn’t want to come home. I wanted to stay with him forever.”

  “Oh, Lauren!” Mrs. Hart sighed and confessed, “You have left me quite speechless.”

  “I knew I would. I know you’re shocked, and I can just picture Dad’s reaction. But being with Jonas? I have never felt so right about anything in my life.”

  Her mother took a deep breath. If there was one thing Lilly had not prepared herself for, it was the possibility of her daughter falling in love and marrying outside their faith. After what had happened to her own family, she wanted to protect her daughter from a similar fate. But lecturing rarely achieved the desired goal, so instead, she pulled herself together and with forced calm asked what she felt was a reasonable question. “Have you by any chance given thought to the fact that you live on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean and a courtship might be difficult?”

  Lauren smiled. Courtship? What an old-fashioned word. “We actually have a date in two weeks. He is coming over to attend the baptism of his friend’s daughter, so we’ll have a chance to see each other. We’ll be fine, Mom. We’ll work it out.”

  Her words caught Lilly off guard for a moment. The man had attended church with Lauren and was coming all the way to the States to attend the baptism of a friend’s child? Obviously, there was much they didn’t know about Jonas Juul. Under the circumstances, she decided it might be wise to keep an open mind and trust her daughter’s good judgment, though she couldn’t seem to prevent a worried sigh. “Oh, Lauren! I don’t know why I’m shocked. You have never done anything the conventional way. Why should I expect you to start now?”

  “I didn’t plan this,” Lauren protested. “When I was younger, I thought I’d be married and living near you and Dad by now. It just didn’t happen.”

  “Oh no, my darling. You specifically requested that I stop you from marrying young if you showed any inclination to do so. And after college, you couldn’t wait to go traipsing around the world because you wanted adventure.”

  “True,” Lauren admitted with a laugh. “And I’ve had a marvelous time. And I’ll continue to have a marvelous time with Jonas. He thinks I’m amazing.”

  “And so you are. I am glad he appreciates your uniqueness. I may just decide to like him sight unseen.”

  “Oh, Mom.” She wondered if her mother knew how much that meant to her. “I know you’ll love him when you get to know him. And when you tell Dad, will you make sure he knows Jonas will be a son-in-law he can be proud of and that he’s a really good man?”

  “I’ll be sure to tell him.” She wiped away a tear. Her little girl was all grown up. There were challenges to be sure, but she expected Lauren to figure things out. She usually did.

  “I’m very happy for you, darling,” she said sincerely, “and we are anxious to meet him. We’ll have to arrange something.”

  “Thanks, Mom. And thank you for not lecturing. Tell Dad I love him.”

  “I will. You take care and try to ease up on your work a little.”

  “Difficult to do, but I’ll try.”

  “Well, I’d better let you go. If I know you, you’ll check in with your office almost immediately.”

  “Not this time. I’m taking a long weekend off to recover from the jet lag. The only thing I have going is church on Sunday. I brought home treats for the kids in my Primary class.”

  “You spoil them,” her mother said fondly.

  “I love them. ‘Bye for now. Talk to you soon.”

  “‘Bye, darling. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” Lauren let out a sigh of relief. That went much better than anticipated. She always knew she had great parents, but this time her mom had gone beyond the expected. She couldn’t wait to tell Jonas.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jonas returned from Lisbon with several things on his agenda, none of them to do with business. On his first day back at the office, he made two phone calls. The first one was to Mrs. Viik, the widow who owned the old Hjellestad estate. When he introduced himself and asked if he might see her on a matter of business, she graciously agreed, and they settled on a day and time.

  The second call was to Simon Berg. Simon was at his desk when the call came in, leaning indolently back in his chair, feet on the desk, ankles crossed. Carelessly, without haste, he reached for his phone. “Hello.”

  “Simon Berg?” asked the pleasant, masculine voice on the other end.

  “Yes. How can I help you?”

  “This is Jonas Juul. I spoke with Lauren Hart recently, and she is under the impression you would like an interview with me.”

  Simon heard the light chuckle as the voice continued. “Personally, I think I would be a dull subject for your column, but if you can be at my office this afternoon, say around two o’clock, I’ll give you some time.”

  Simon fell off his chair in astonishment.

  Jonas heard the thud followed by silence then finally a cautious, “Is this a crank call?”

  “Not at all,” replied Jonas. “I read your column on Lauren. It was very clever. I was impressed.”

  On his end, Simon scratched his head. “How can I be sure you are who you say you are?”

  “I understand we had lunch at the same restaurant recently and you witnessed Lauren throw herself at me, almost toppling me in the process. I really am Jonas Juul.” He paused, expecting a comment from Simon and when none seemed forthcoming, prompted, “Can I expect you at two o’clock? My office is located . . .”

  “I know where your office is,” Simon interrupted. Who in the city didn’t know the location of the Juul Enterprises Building? “I’ll be there.”

  Simon Berg was still skeptical as he entered the Juul Enterprises premises just before two. He believed it was a straightforward call, but he was cautious. He made his way to the executive offices. A receptionist asked if she could direct him. When he told her his errand, she replied that Mr. Juul was expecting him and to please follow her. Simon drew a silent sigh of relief and did a mental jig.

  Jonas greeted the journalist with a smile and a firm handshake and thanked him for coming. After a few moments
of casual, get-acquainted small talk, he invited Simon to have a seat in the comfortable sitting area in one corner of the room.

  Simon looked around. The office, though large, was decorated with a nod to quality and comfort, but with no sign of ostentation. Jonas Juul, he was to discover, for all his financial successes, belonged to the breed of men Norwegians respectfully called ‘quietly wealthy.’ Though tall and impressive, he had never been known to flaunt his wealth, and his preference for a low-key lifestyle was well-known. With this interview, Simon hoped to discover the reason he was so protective of his privacy.

  “You must be wondering why I invited you here,” Jonas began once they were comfortably seated. “I am not exactly known for my accessibility to the media. On a personal level.”

  “No, you have managed to be quite elusive for many years,” Simon agreed. “On a personal level. It’s been a game among us in the profession to see who could catch a glimpse of Jonas Juul at play.”

  Jonas chuckled. “Have you ever had your face splattered across the front page of a tabloid?”

  Simon gave a negative shake of his head. “I can truthfully say I have not. Nor do I have a secret ambition to be immortalized in that fashion.”

  “My point exactly,” replied Jonas dryly. “I also had no wish to expose friends to such travesty.”

  “Which brings us to one Miss Lauren Hart,” Simon inserted smoothly. He was not a man who wasted time.

  “And the reason I invited you here,” Jonas agreed.

  Simon noticed the smile, one he would describe as bordering on tender at the mention of Lauren’s name. He dismissed it as improbable. “Fascinating young woman,” he observed. “Charming. Intelligent. Articulate. And very protective of you.”

  “She is indeed,” Jonas agreed. “You nailed her in your column, even on such short acquaintance. That tells me you are observant and fair in your writing.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Tell me,” said Jonas easily, “why would I be of interest to your readers? I am a businessman, nothing more. I don’t live a flamboyant lifestyle, I don’t flaunt beautiful women to feed my ego, I am a law-abiding citizen, and I don’t have teenage children running afoul of the law.”